Self-supporting cane



April 28,1931. TLAULMANN 1,802,323

SELF SUPPORTING CANE Filed June 17. 1929 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 'TATs THEODORE AULMANN, F D ES VMOIN'ES, IOWA snnasurron'rme CANE Application filed June 17,

The object of my invention is to provide a cane of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, having a suitable handle which may be grasped by the user, and which provides means whereby the user may be assisted and steadied in walking, and particularly adapted for elderly people recovering from a fractured bone, such as a hip.

More specifically it is the object of my invention to provide a cane having a handle member which may be grasped by the operators hand, and of such height as to steady and assist the user when walking, and provided with an enlarged base whereby the cane will support itself in an upright position and the load supported thereon.

A further object is to provide a cane having a substantially rectangular base adapted to be supported on the floor surface and to carry upright leg members and a handle member, said handle member being adjustably mounted on said legs to vary its height, the leg members being so arranged and mounted as to provide a rigid and firm support for the handle.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crutch.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of same; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

My improved cane comprises a substantially rectangular base 10 formed of side members 11 and end members 12. The end members 12 are preferably mounted on the top surface of the ends of the members 11.

Projecting upwardly from each corner of the base are leg members 13 and 14. The leg members 13 are mounted in substantially vertical plane while the leg members 14 are mounted in a plane inclined inwardly toward the leg members 13. The leg members of each set diverge inwardly at their top ends, as shown in Figure 3.

The upper ends of the corresponding leg 1929. Serial miantoi.

members 13 and 14: are secured to a clamp 15 A by means of suitable bolts 16; A cylindrical handle member 17 is'mounted horizontally above the upper, ends of the leg members 13 and 14 'andprovided with downwardly projecting pins 18 slidably mounted in the clamps 15. Set screws 19 are provided for tightening the clamps and for locking the pins 18, against sliding movement.

The handle members 17 are mounted at such height as to be easily grasped by the users hand when the arms are hanging downwardly from the shoulder, so that his weight may be placed on said handles. The pins 18 and the set screws 19 provide means whereby the said handle maybe adjusted to accommodate persons of various heights.

In actual use the operator may use one or two of the canes as the case requires. The

leg members 13 are carried innermost. The 71 operator may slide or lift the cane and advance the same as each step is taken and rest a part or all of his weight on said handles with insurance that he will not fall.

I find by actual experience that elderly 7:. people who are afraid to use the ordinary crutch take very readily to my improved device, and are able to move about and walk a great deal sooner, upon recovering from a fractured bone, than they would otherwise be able to do with an ordinary crutch, and the recovery is very much expedited.

I claim asmy invention:

1. A cane comprising a base adapted tobe portably supported directly on a floor or ground surface, said base having upwardly projecting and inwardly inclined legs, a single horizontal handle member, means for adjustably connecting said handle to the upper ends of said legs, whereby the handle may be adjusted to accommodate persons of various heights so that the handle'may be easily grasped by. the users hand while standing, and while the arm is extending downwardly from the shoulder.

. 2. A cane comprising a horizontal handle having a pin extending downwardly from each end, a clamp device for adjustably supporting each of said pins, leg members for supporting each of said clamps, a horizontal base for supporting said legs in an upright position, the upper ends of said legs being inclined inwardly so that the handle will be supported above and vertically within said base near one ofits sides. Q

3, A cane comprising a base having substantially parallel side members and parallel end members, legs arranged in sets secured to the corners of the base and projecting upwardly, one of the legs of each set being inclined inwardly toward the other leg member, each set of leg members havinga clamp at its upper end, a handle member arranged horizontally above said clamps, and means for adjustably connecting saidhandle with said clamps. V

4. A cane comprising a base having a pair of sets of upwardly projecting leg members, one of the leg members of each set of leg members being inclined inwardly toward the other leg member, each set of leg members having a clamp, a handle memberarranged horizontally above said clamps, each end of said handle member having a downwardly extending pin mounted in a corresponding clamp member. i V Des Moines, Iowa, February 5, 1929.

THEODORE AULMANN. V 

